Scraper equipment attachable for bodily movement



July 20, 1965 W. E. MARTIN SCRAPER EQUIPMENT ATTAGHABLE FOR BODILY MOVEMENT Filed Aug. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

July 2o, 196s w. MARTIN 3,195,248

SCRAPER EQUIPMENT ATTACHABLE FOR BODILY MOVEMENT Filed Aug. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

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United States Patent O 3,195,248 SCRAPER EQUIPMENT ATTACHABLE FOR BODILY MOVEMENT William E. Martin, P.0. Box 187, Kewanee, Ill. Filed Aug. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 214,380 3 Claims. (Cl. 37-124) This invention generally relates to earth moving equipment.

More particularly the invention is directed to a scraper equipped with cooperative supporting and manipulating mechanisms that are conveniently arranged yand devised for attachment with a conventional power driven vehicle normally adapted for other uses.

Thus the scraper and associated mechanisms may be readily connected with a power vehicle `such as a crawler tractor, for example, t-o thereby convert a vehicle of that type into a composite work-ing assembly adapted for level- `ing work,'for general surface arca maintenance, to cut irrigation ditches, to engage in terracing, to build roads, to clean up l011 construction sites and to perform many lanalogous functions or services.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a complete assembly comprising a scraper together with supporting structure and operating mechanism which will permit easy attachment -or securement with a power Vehicle to convert the latter into a vehicular unit for full scraper operati-on and function with all the power being .supplied by the power vehicle to move the equipment and to operate the scraper.

Another object is to provide a link structure to support the scraper. which includes mechanism to control the scraper bowl -or bucket in relation to the associated power vehicle. Y j

A still further object is to provide a link structure that will control the scraper bowl or bucket for bodily move- .ment with respect to the power vehicle and which structure includes means lto also tilt the bowl `or bucket at vvarious elevated positions in relation to the power vehicle for ydumping the load for spreading such load, if desired, depending on conditions surrounding the use rof the scraper. f l

Other objects and advantages relating to the scraper assembly ofthe present invention shall hereinafter appear in or become apparent from the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the scraper assembly of this invention vas the same generally appears vwhen attached to a power vehicle for operation and manipulation by such a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a detailed plan View of the link means conneet-ing the scraper bowl with attachment brackets secured yto the power vehicle, certain parts being shown in section and certain structure being `omitted to better show the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a mod-i- `fied )arrangement of link means `for the scraper bowl conl vehicle.

It should be understood that power vehicles of the kind 32,195,248 Patented July Z0, 1965 2 and being .subject to the manipulations of the vehicle as to course and direction.

The scraper 1 is symmetrical side for yside so that the same general mechanisms appear on opposite sides of the scraper including similar connections with the far side of the power vehicle 2 which power Vehicle 2 is power driven by wheel means as a crawler tractor.

Scraper 1 comprises a material carrying bowl or bucket 3 having sides 4, back 5 .and -a bottom 6 provided with a cutting blade 7. An apron 8 is provided having a curved terminus front wall 9 with side wings 10 to enclose the open front 11 of the bowl -3 and to retain the bowl load including some excess or spill over load as well.

Apron i5 has 'side arms 12, pivoted on stub shafts or pins 13 mounted on the bowl sides 4, with arms 12 terminating in operating arms 14 disposed `for connection with a cross rod `or pin 1S providing a part of a hydraulic actuating imeans. In the illustration in FIGS. l and 2, a hydraulic cylinder 16 is pivoted on a pin 17 carried 'by a bracket 118 on wall 5 of bowl 3 and the ram 19 lof the cylinder is pivotally joined with the pin or rod 15 centrally of the Ibowl at 20 to actuate the operating arms 14 of the `apron 3.

V.pins 25 .and 26 secured to brackets 27, the pins 213-24 and 25-2-6 forming a parallelo gram arrangement to dispose the -links 21 and 22 in parallel condition as they move about their respective pivot pins. The foregoing is the preferred link arrangement although the invention need not necessarily be strictly limited to that specific concept. Under certain conditions of operation, it may become feasible to vary the exact locations-of the pivot pins 2344 and 25-26 to introduce a prearranged tilt of the bow-l 3 upon the swinging of the links 21-22.

Brackets 27 are suitably rigidly attached to the frame i 28 of the power vehicle 2 to form the primary supporting means for the bowl operating means and the sole guiding means for steering and guiding the bowl 3 with the vehicle. Frame 28 may comprise the frame or a frame part of any power vehicle, the Vehicle shown in FIG. 1, by example, providing a track frame 28 on a crawler tractor such as 'diagrammatically shown at 2.

Supplementing the bracket and link means is the power means 29 that furnishes the actuating instrumentality for the vertical control of the bowl 3 in carrying out the functions thereof. Power means 29 comprises a hy- 4necessarily be a power vehicle.

draulic cylinder 30 pivoted on pin 31 mounted on an extension 32 of bracket 27, the cylinder having a ram 33.

connected with pin 34 mounted on a suitable link bracket 35 secured to link 21 in a feasible manner. Operation of the cylinder 3i)` will cause links 21 and 22 to swing on their respective bracket pins 25-26 to raise or lower bowl 3 as needed, the bowl maintaining its position wit-h respect to the ground or to the crawler tractor when the link means conforms with the parallelogram arrangement shown in FiG. l.

From the previous description, it will be apparent that the power vehicle 2 provides the means for maneuvering the Scraper assembly as to direction and course, while the hydraulic' cylinder 3@ acts to raise or lowerthe scraper assembly according to the operators dictates to carry out certain ofthe earth handling functions attendant a device of the character noted.

One -of the other necessary functions of the scraper is the dumping operation requiring the tilt of the scraper,

bowl to discharge the loadtrom the open bowl front lll and in amounts tha-t can be regulated by the position of apron 8. The .dumping action is brought about byproviding at least one of the links 2i or 22 as an extensible memberV which can be power operated to lengthen or shorten the overall length of that link to swing the bowl about fone link pin as the other pin describes an arc about suchone pinto tilt or rock the bowl 3 in a direction to bring the bowl frontill into a load discharging position when desired. With this arrangement, it is possible to rock or tilt` the bowl upon a lateral axis to cause the bowl bottom 6 to assume diiierent angular positions in relationto the general plane of the surface being worked upon 4by this scraperscrawler unit.

Bottom 6 ofthe bowl can be angled upwardly toward the front or angled upwardly rearwardly thereby relatively dropping theblade end 7, or the entire bowl can be swung into a position for a complete load discharge. Further, by a regulated use of the apron 8 to change the amount of bowl front opening, it is possible to 4spread the load as needed or desired. The bowl filling act may also be carriedout under restricted bowl front access with the apron Sadjusted vertically to suit the conditionsj of operation, etc.

Link 22`is constructed as a telescoping hydraulic cylinder in FIG. 1 to illustrate one way in'which the dumping and tilting ofthe bowl can be regulated as needed. Link 22, therefore,.comprises a plurality of telescoping cylinders Such as 40 and 41, including a ram such as 4Z providing a suggested terminal member. Cylinder iti and ram 42 are each made with bearing ends 43 and 444 tol journal upon the previously describedy pins 24 and 26,'on

the bowl 3 and bracket 27, respectively.

By raising apron 8 withthe bowl 3 disposed in a desired elevated position and by retracting Vthe telescoping cylinder means comprising links 22, the bowl will tilt doWn- Y wardly in counterclockwise direction about pin 23 and the end of link 21 to discharge the materialfrom within the bowl out of Vits open frontlll. Expansion of link 22 will cause clockwise rotation of the bowl into a horizontal position or into any selected angular position for any desired purpose..

An alternative link arangement 'is generally illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein links 5l and 52' connect the bowl 3 with bracket 2'7 mounted upon the frame section 28a of a scraper manipulating vehicle which may or may not Link 51 is an expansible and retractiblerlink in the form of a telescoping hydraulic cylinder comprising cylinders 53 and 54 with a terminal end ram 55. And link 52 is a fixed link placing the link means in reverse order with respect to each other from 4the form of the invention shown in FlG. l.

The control cylinder 30 has its ram 33 connected through pin 34 with a bracket 56 secured to cylinder 53 Viluid and retracted by withdrawal of such uid.

FG. 4 is substantially like FIG. 3 except that link 52 is replaced with an expansible and retractible telescoping cylinder 6) so that a still greater ilexibility of operation is possible for the controlled manipulation of the scraper bowl 3. Such link means can tilt the bowl or cant the same according to the manner of'link operation as selected. In all cases where the expansible links are provided, it should be understood that the lengths of these links may be expanded'by introduction of the hydraulic Gauge markingsmay be supplied on the cylinder parts to provide reference means for `an operator.

Attention is further directed to the dual links on each side of the bowl, spaced inlateral planes flanking the bowlsides, the same links extendingoutwardly beyond the bowl to tiank their respectivefbracket'means as well shown in FIGS. l and 2 to establish controlled stabilization for the bowl during its Vertical movements. The operating mechanisms used to actuate the link kmeans lie in the same general planes ofthe Yrespective link means to maintain their power thrustsin the planes of operation of the link means for added stabilized control during bowl manipulation. n

The foregoing description-refers to the structures disclosed which are only used by wayof-example for demonstrating the inventive concept of the .present invention. Certain changes yand modications are considered possible with respect to the exact combinations shown or inthe various elements providedwithout departingffrom the basic idea. The extent of the modifications shall, however, be governed by the breadthand scope of the appended claimed subject matter.

What I claim is:

1f In a power, operated material handling vehicle having ground engaging drive means having -a median horizontal plane with portions of .said vehicle frame disposed intermediate said drive means in the elevation of said plane,V a `scraper assembly comprising a .scraper bowl movably mounted on said vehicle kfor actuation from an operative lowered ground engaging position ahead of the vehicle in line with said plane and into aninoperative raisedposition above said drive means,l and power regulated link means at each side of the Vvehicle to mount said scraper assembly on said vehicle comprising individual upright brackets xedly secured to the vehicle frame portions longitudinally intermediate `said drive means and extend- -ing upwardly at opposite sidesof the vehicle laterally beyond the outer sides of the drive means, each bracket having aY set of link members pivotally` connected therewith above and below said plane and having pivotal connections with the scraper bowl at pointsfabove andbelow said plane whensaid scraper `bowlis lowered to operative position ahead ofsaid drive means, and power operated means connected to actuate each set of link members to raise said scraper bowl between operative and inoperative positions, said power operated means each comprising a power cylinder pivotally connected with one of the ixedly secured brackets and having a rampivotally connected with one of said link members on said bracket, said cylinder and ram extending substantially fore and aft in relation to the vehicle drive means and in upwardly ianking relation with respect to the link members operated .thereby when said scraper bowl occupies its operative lowered position, said link members being subjected to compressive forces in positions above and belowY said plane when said scraper bowl is lowered to thus operatively and forcibly manipulate said scraper bowl in straight line fashion parallel with said planeto counteract vehicle tilt.

Y 2. In the combination, setforth and dened in claim 1 wherein each set of link members comprises parallel link membersV having their pivotal connecting points on their supporting bracket and on the scraper bowl arr-anged at the apexes of a parallelogram to maintain said bowl in a given angularrelation with respect to the vehicle while being raised or lowered by their respective power operated means.

3. In the combination set forth and dened in claim 1 with the addition of providing one of the link members in each set as an extensible and retractable unit to cause fore and aft tilting of the bowl about the adjacent end of the other link member of said set for the control of the load in the bowl including the discharge function of dumping said load.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/5 8 Lessmann 214-140 4/ 60 Ludowici 37-117.5

9/60 Dodge 37--117.5

l/ 62 Ackerman 214-140 10/ 62 Lorang 37-144 10/ 62 Garske 214-140 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/5 3 Australia.

6/ 5 6 France.

2/5 8 Great Britain.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Examiner. 

1. IN A POWER OPERATED MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE HAVING GROUND ENGAGING DRIVE MEANS HAVING A MEDIAN HORIZONTAL PLANE WITH PORTIONS OF SAID VEHICLE FRAME DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE SAID DRIVE MEANS IN THE ELEVATION OF SAID PLANE, A SCRAPER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SCRAPER BOWL MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID VEHICLE FOR ACTUATION FROM AN OPERATIVE LOWERED GROUND ENGAGING POSITION AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE IN LINE WITH SAID PLANE AND INTO AN INOPERATIVE RAISED POSITION ABOVE SAID DRIVE MEANS, AND POWER REGULATED LINK MEANS AT EACH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO MOUNT SAID SCRAPER ASSEMBLY ON SAID VEHICLE COMPRISING INDIVIDUAL UP RIGHT BRACKETS FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME PORTIONS LONGITUDINALLY INTERMEDIATE SAID DRIVE MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE LATERALLY BEYONG THE OUTER SIDES OF THE DRIVE MEANS, EACH BRACKET HAVING A SET OF LINK MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THEREWITH ABOVE AND BELOW SAID PLANE AND HAVING PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS WITH THE SCRAPER BOWL AT POINTS ABOVE AND BELOW SAID PLANE WHEN SAID SCRAPER BOWL IS LOWERED TO OPERATIVE POSITION AHEAD OF SAID DRIVE MEANS, AND POWER OPERATED MEANS CONNECTED TO ACTUATE EACH SET OF LINK MEMBERS TO RAISE SAID SCRAPER BOWL BETWEEN OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS, SAID POWER OPERATED MEANS EACH COMPRISING A POWER CYLINDER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH ONE OF THE FIXEDLY SECURED BRCKETS AND HAVING A RAM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH ONE OF SAID LINK MEMBERS ON SAID BRACKET, SAID CYLINDER AND RAM EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALY FORE AND AFT IN RELATION TO THE VEHICLE DRIVE MEANS AND IN UPWARDLY FLANKING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE LINK MEMBERS OPERATED THEREBY WHEN SAID SCRAPER BOWL OCCUPIES ITS OPERATIVE LOWERED POSITION, SAID LINK MEMBERS BEING SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSIVE FORCES IN POSITIONS ABOVE AND BELOW SAID PLANE WHEN SAID SCRAPER BOWL IS LOWERED TO THUS OPERATIVELY AND FORCIBLY MANIPULATE SAID SCRAPER BOWL IN STRAIGHT LINE FASHION PARALLEL WITH SAID PLANE TO COUNTERACT VEHICLE TILT. 